Age Differences in American Indian Students' Self-Determined and Controlled Reading Motivation: Development Across Grades 3 Through 8

• In Event: Motivation in Education SIG Poster Session: Motivational Processes and Effects

Abstract

Grade level differences in self-determined (intrinsic and identified) and controlled (introjected and external) forms of motivation were examined among 626 third through eighth grade American Indian students. One-way analyses of variance revealed a continuous decrease in intrinsic motivation from third through eighth grade. In contrast, more controlled forms of motivation changed very little across the grade levels, however, they were significantly lower for eighth grade students than for students in all other grades. Implications of the findings, such as the concerning low levels of self-determined motivation for students in higher grades, are discussed.

Author

• Claudia C Sutter, University of Virginia